Austin is a city in Mower County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 24,718 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Mower County. Austin is located at the intersection of Interstate Highway 90 and U.S. Highway 218 in the southeastern part of the state.

The town was originally settled along the Cedar River and it has two man-made lakes called East Side Lake and Mill pond. The town was named for Austin R. Nichols, the first settler in the area.

City Licenses

City Licenses

Business Licensing

The City of Austin licenses various types of businesses and the office of the City Clerk is responsible for issuing those licenses and permits. Below is a list of licenses and permits issued with applicable forms, requirements and fees. Certain businesses may require more than one type of license. All licenses expire on December 31 of the licensing year and must be approved by Council. Please contact us if you have any questions.

This license is for adult-oriented business activities subject to regulation by Chapter 15 of the Austin City Code. An investigation must be performed. The investigation fee is $100, and the annual license fee is $150. The license must be approved by the City Council.

Amusement Device Owner

This license is for those engaged in the business of selling, servicing, placing or leasing mechanical amusement devices on premises of more than one operator. The application fee is $10, and the annual license fee is $15 per device. The license must be approved by the City Council.

Amusement Device Premise

This license is for a person or business operating an establishment in which a mechanical amusement device is located. The application fee $10, and the annual fee is $15 per device. The license must be approved by the City Council.

The City of Austin requires your cat or dog to be licensed. Licensing is required for animals three months of age or more. Licenses may be obtained at the City Clerk’s Office. You will need to provide proof of rabies shots. You may provide proof of spaying or neutering for the discounted fee.

This license is for a person or business selling or offering to sell any tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco-related device. The application fee is $10, and the annual fee is $50. The license must be approved by the City Council.

This license is for a person who constructs, reconstructs or repairs concrete sidewalks, curbs or gutters upon the public streets of the city. The application fee is $10, and the annual fee is $50. The license requires acknowledgement of current Engineer’s Rules & Regulations. The licensee must provide a certificate of liability insurance (25/50/25) and a $1000 performance bond. The license must be approved by the City Council.

This license is for any person who constructs, reconstructs or repairs for others sewers or connections with public sewers. The application fee is $10, and the annual fee is $50. The license requires acknowledgement of current Engineer’s Rules & Regulations. The licensee must provide a certificate of liability insurance (100/300/25) and a $1000 performance bond. The license must be approved by the City Council.

Food

This license is for anyone who operates a food service establishment. The application fee is $10, and the annual fee is $50. The licensee must provide proof of state licensing. The license must be approved by the City Council.

Food Wagon

The food wagon license is for any person who operates a food wagon while parked on public property or right-of-way. Licensee must sign an indemnification agreement holding the City harmless and provide a list of locations for operation. State regulation restricts the parking of the licensee’s trailer to 21 days. The license must be approved by the City Council.

Sidewalk Café

The Sidewalk Café license is auxiliary to a City of Austin food license. The license allows food establishments to sell in a public right-of-way directly adjacent to their establishment. There is no fee. Applicant must provide a sidewalk diagram. Applications will be approved by the Engineer and Police Departments, and the license must be approved by the City Council.

Garbage Hauler

This license is for hauling residential garbage or other refuse. Licensees shall agree to hold the City harmless and name the City as an additional insured, providing the City with a certificate of insurance. Applicants shall provide a list of vehicles used, along with a schedule of proposed rates. The application fee is $10, and the license fee is $25 per vehicle. The license must be approved by the City Council.

Commercial Hauler

This license is for hauling commercial garbage or other refuse. Licensees shall agree to hold the City harmless and name the City as an additional insured, providing the City with a certificate of insurance. Applicants shall provide a list of vehicles used, along with a schedule of proposed rates. The application fee is $10, and the license fee is $25 per vehicle. The license must be approved by the City Council.

This license allows for the operation of hotels, motels and rooming houses and to require payment of a 3% lodging tax to provide funding for the Austin Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. The application fee is $10, and the license fee is $50. The license must be approved by the City Council.

This license is for a business operating or maintaining a kennel. Hospitals and clinics operated by licensed veterinarians are exempt from this license. The application fee is $10, and the annual fee is $125. The license must be approved by the City Council.

3.2 Beer On-Sale

This license is for the retail sale of 3.2% malt liquor. Applicants must be investigated. The investigation fee for an individual is $100, $200 for a partnership, or $300 for a corporation. The license fee is $400. The license must be approved by the City Council.

Club On-Sale

This license is for on-sale liquor sales by clubs. Clubs must have been in existence for at least three years, have more than 50 members, have owned or leased a building for more than a year, and be conducted by a board of directors. An investigation must be performed on the applicant. The investigation fee for a club is $300. The license fee is $300 for a club with under 200 members or $500 for a club with between 201 and 500 members. The license must be approved by the City Council.

Certificate of Insurance for liquor for entire license year

Consume & Display

This license allows the consumption and display of liquor by clubs or unincorporated societies which, except for the lack of incorporation, meet the requirements of a club. The application fee is $10, and the license fee $300.

Hard Liquor On-Sale

This license is for hard liquor on-sale. An investigation must be performed on the applicant. The investigation fee for an individual is $100, $200 for a partnership, or $300 for a corporation. The license fee is $2250. The license must be approved by the City Council.

Certificate of insurance with liquor liability for entire license year

$2250 + investigation fee

Liquor Off-Sale

This license is for off-sales of liquor. An investigation must be performed on the applicant. The investigation fee for an individual is $100, $200 for a partnership, or $300 for a corporation. The license fee is $560. The license must be approved by the City Council.

Liquor On-Sale Wine

This license is for the sale of wine by the glass not exceeding 14 percent alcohol by volume for consumption on the licensed premises where sold. A Food Establishment License is required in conjunction with all On-Sale Wine Licenses. Applicants of a Wine-On-Sale for a restaurant must have seating for at least 30 people. Applicant must apply for a special Sunday Wine-On-Sale License to serve on Sunday.

Liquor Catering

The Liquor Catering license is incidental to food catering. The applicant must possess a Minnesota State Caterer’s license. To obtain a City of ‘ Catering License, applicant must have an on-sale liquor license for a restaurant. The license application must be approved by the police chief. The applicant must provide a certificate of insurance showing off-premises coverage. The license fee is $200. The license must be approved by the City Council.

Temporary liquor licenses may be used up to four consecutive days but no more than 12 days total for the year. Only one temporary license per entity or location within any 30-day period unless for a municipal community festival is allowed. Applicant must provide liquor liability showing the City as additional insured if the event is held on city property. The license must be approved by the City Council.

Temporary 3.2 Beer

Applicant must be one of the following:

non-profit organization for at least 3 years

club

charitable organization

religious organization

Temporary 3.2 Beer licenses may be used no more than 20 days total. Application must state exact days to be used and place to be used. If serving on City property, City must be named as an additional insured. The license must be approved by the City Council.

Outside Sale of On-Sale Beer or Liquor

Massage Therapy

This license is for to perform massage therapy within the City. Applicants must be investigated and provide a diploma or certificate from a recognized school of massage therapy showing proof that the applicant has had 500 hours of training. The investigation fee is $50, and the license fee is $100. The license must be approved by the City Council.

Diploma or certificate from recognized school of massage therapy showing with proof of 500 hours training

$150

Massage Establishment

This license is for a place – residential or commercial – where massage is to be practiced. Applicant must be investigated. (Only one investigation is required if obtaining both Massage Therapy and Massage Establishment licenses.) The investigation fee is $100 for an individual, $200 for a partnership, or $300 for a corporation. The application must be approved by the Building Official, the Zoning Administrator and the Police Department. The license must be approved by the City Council.

Applicants must provide a copy of their State of Minnesota Master Plumber’s license, a certificate of insurance, and a bond. The application fee is $10, and the fee is $100. The license must be approved by the City Council.

The Pawn Shop license helps the police better regulate current pawn businesses, decrease and stabilize costs associated with the regulation of the pawn industry, and increase identification of criminal activities in the pawn industry. The Pawn Shop license provides for the collection and sharing of pawn transaction information. The applicant must be investigated. The fee for an investigation is $100 for sole proprietorship, $200 for partnership, or $300 for a corporation. The license fee is $100. Licensees must provide a bond. The license must be approved by the City Council.

Peddler

This license is required for any person who goes from house to house or business to business for the purpose of offering for dale, displaying for sale, selling or attempting to sell, and delivering immediately upon sale, goods or products. Applicants must be investigated. The investigation fee is $25. The license is $10 per day or $25 per week. The license must be approved by the City Council.

Solicitation Registration

Solicitation is the practice of going house to house or business to business with the purpose of obtaining orders for goods or products. Solicitors need not be licensed but are required to be registered. Solicitation does not require approval by the City Council.

Transient Merchant

Establishments that have pool, billiards, snooker or other game table or any bowling alley must obtain a license. The application fee is $10, and the license fee is $20 for the first table and $5.00 for additional tables.

Sandwich board permit are required for businesses who wish to advertise via a sandwich board in the public right-of-way. Applicant must provide a certificate of insurance naming the City as an additional insured. The annual fee is $30.

This license is for individuals engaged in the business of sign installation. The applicant must provide a certificate of insurance. The application fee is $10, and the license fee is $50. The license must be approved by the City Council.

This license is for anyone driving a small vehicle passenger service (or shuttle) vehicle. This license varies from a taxi cab license in that the shuttle service may start in the City and end in a location outside of the City or start in a location outside of the City and end in the City. This license is not for service exclusively within City limits. Applicants must be investigated by the Police Department, and the health of the applicant must be approved by a licensed physician. The investigation fee is $25, and the license is $25. The license must be approved by the City Council.

This license is for anyone who owns a small vehicle passenger (or shuttle) service. Inspections on each vehicle must be performed by a certified competent and experienced mechanic or a local law enforcement official. Applicant must provide a certificate of insurance. Applicant must also provide a schedule of proposed maximum rates to be charged during the license year. The application fee is $25, and the license fee is $25 per vehicle. The license must be approved by the City Council.

Event Application

Submit an Event Application to use the public right-of-way for a complete or partial closure of a street. Include a map of the designated route area if the event is a run or walk and indicate if barriers are needed. The event shall be authorized by the Chief of Police and approved by the City Council.

Block Party Application

If you will be holding a block party in the street or any public right-of-way, you must complete a Block Party Application and include a diagram or map of the proposed area. The application must be approved by the City Engineer and Police Chief. There is no fee, and approval is not required by the City Council.

Taxicab Driver

This license is for anyone driving a passenger vehicle on-call or on a scheduled or unscheduled route for hire, excluding mass transit. Applicants must be investigated by the Police Department, and the health of the applicant must be approved by a licensed physician. The investigation fee is $25, and the license is $25. The license must be approved by the City Council.

Taxicab Owner

This license is for anyone who owns a taxicab service. Inspections on each vehicle must be performed by a certified competent and experienced mechanic or a local law enforcement official. Applicant must provide a certificate of insurance. Applicant must also provide a schedule of proposed maximum rates to be charged during the license year. The application fee is $25, and the license fee is $25 per vehicle. The license must be approved by the City Council.

This license is for anyone engaged in the business of tree removal or tree trimming. The applicant must provide a certificate of insurance. The application fee is $10, and the license fee is $50. The license must be approved by the City Council.

This license is for anyone engaged in the business of installing water conditioning or water filtering equipment. Applicant must provide a proof of Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry licensure. The application fee is $10, and the license fee is $50. The license must be approved by the City Council.